Key Components of an E-Learning Module in Statistics for Computer Science Students

Abstract

The traditionally taught face-to-face course in statistics for undergraduate non-statistics students suffered from several problems: Time and location constraints, different preknowledge in mathematics, lack of motivation, no use of statistical software etc. Therefore, we decided to develop an e-learning course in statistics to reduce the impact of these problems. This paper describes the different components developed for the e-learning course as well as the teaching framework. Preliminary results from the first in-class usage of the e-learning course indicate positive qualitative effects. In addition, we discuss which of the e-learning components the students mainly preferred to use. Furthermore, we show that the exam results from the e-learning course are significantly better than the corresponding results from the face-to-face course in this first in-class usage.